Abstract

Background

Intermittent sun exposure and sunburn are risk factors for skin cancer that mostly occur in recreational/tourist settings. This review assesses the efficacy of skin cancer prevention interventions designed to promote sun-protective behaviors in recreational/tourist settings.

Methods

Systematic review with meta-analyses of controlled trials with outcome measures of sun-protective behaviors and/or sunburn published until January 2011.

Results

Twenty-three studies were included. We found no evidence for the efficacy of current interventions in reducing tanning or promoting protective clothing and seeking shade. Meta-analyses show a small heterogeneous effect for interventions on sun-protective behavior indices. Larger but heterogeneous effects were observed for self-reported sun exposure and sunburns. Modest methodological quality suggests risk of bias. Effective interventions were more likely to stimulate social norms supporting sun-protective behaviors and provide appearance-based information about photoaging illustrated with ultraviolet photographs.

Conclusion

There is weak and inconclusive evidence for the efficacy of interventions in promoting sun-protective behaviors.

United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2007 Incidence and mortality web-based report. [Internet]. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute. 2010. Available from: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/uscs/.

World Health Organisation. Sun protection: An essential element of health-promoting schools. WHO INFORMATION SERIES ON SCHOOL HEALTH [Internet]. 2002 10 November 2009. Available from: http://www.who.int/hpr/gshi/.

Dombrowski S, Sniehotta F, Avenell A. Current issues and future directions in psychology and health: Towards a cumulative science of behaviour change: Do current conduct and reporting of behavioural interventions fall short of best practice? Psychol Heal. 2007;22(8):869-874.CrossRef